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    Home » Cocktails » Liqueurs

    Homemade Cherry Liqueur

    LAST UPDATED: July 13, 2018 PUBLISHED: July 29, 2013 By Pam Greer 32 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade Cherry Liqueur is so easy, time does all the work!  It makes a great Christmas gift, though you want to some for yourself too!

    Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on sidebar.

    Jar filled with dark cherries with a tag reading Dark Cherry Liqueur and a text overlay reading Homemade Cherry Liqueur

    Preserving Cherries

    Cherry season is so fleeting!  I am always looking for ways to preserve cherries.  If you read this blog with any regularity you know I consider infusing alcohol as one of my hobbies.  Combine my hobby with infusing liquors and wanting to preserve cherries and you come up with a tasty solution - Homemade Cherry Liqueur!

     

    A bowl full of cherries - ready to become dark cherry liqueur

    Homemade Cherry Liqueur

    Making this homemade cherry liqueur is so easy!  You basically pit a bunch of cherries, I used this cherry pitter.   You place the pitted cherries in a large jar, add vodka and sugar.  Shake the jar and steep in a cool dark place for 8 - 12 weeks.

    At that time, you can strain out the cherries and store them in the freezer - they are amazing on ice cream.  Or you can do like I do and just leave them in the liqueur, scooping them out when you want some cherries.

    Jar filled with cherries and tag reading Dark Cherry Liqueur

    Great for Christmas Gifts

    This is so lovely when decanted into pretty bottles, like these 12 ounce, or these 8.5 ounce, or this one with serving glasses.   As a bonus you get to keep the strained cherries - spoon them on vanilla ice cream!

    Just be sure and make a second batch for yourself.  You are going to want to.  Really you are.

    Dark Cherry Liqueur
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    4.80 from 10 votes

    Dark Cherry Liqueur

    This Dark Cherry Liqueur is the perfect way to preserve cherries! 
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Steeping 2-3 months 60 days
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 12
    Calories 260kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pounds cherries
    • 1 ¼ cups sugar
    • 750 milliliter vodka 80 Proof

    Instructions

    • Pit the cherries and place them in a glass container large enough to hold them, the vodka and the sugar.  Add the vodka and sugar to the jar.  Shake to dissolve the sugar.  Steep in a cool, dark place for 8 weeks.
    • The original recipe tells you at 8 weeks to strain out the solids and then add ½ cup of simple sugar syrup and age for 2 to 3 months.  I obviously skip this step.  I just let mine age with the cherries in it for about 3 months and then start fishing out the cherries as I need (or want) them!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise says

      December 29, 2020 at 7:28 pm

      How long does does he cherry liquor last? I have had some in a dark closet for over a year and wondering if its still good.

      Thanks,
      Denise

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        December 30, 2020 at 1:44 pm

        If it doesn't show any obvious mold, it should still be good. It will last indefinitely, but the flavor might degrade. I usually recommend trying to use it up within a year.

        Reply
    2. Deedubya says

      September 11, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      We are up North of 48th parallel the only cherries are sour, but I have a big tree and they are just ripe this week. So cherriful LoL

      Reply
    3. Laura says

      August 15, 2020 at 10:34 am

      Do you have to put the cherries?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 15, 2020 at 1:21 pm

        Sometimes I pit them and sometimes I don't.

        Reply
    4. Teri says

      November 28, 2018 at 2:23 am

      Can you use frozen cherries?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 28, 2018 at 7:57 am

        Sure!

        Reply
    5. Tisha says

      July 13, 2018 at 10:06 pm

      5 stars
      OH yes!! Love this idea! Definitely going to try it!!

      Reply
    6. Sara says

      July 13, 2018 at 10:05 pm

      5 stars
      I know this has to be good. Once I did a big jar, every month I added a fruit and a bottle of rum, by the time the holidays rolled around it was an incredible concoction that my adult relatives enjoyed immensely!

      Reply
    7. Claudia Lamascolo says

      July 13, 2018 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      Pam , your niche is so unique and wonderful. This is another WOW recipe I love to try.
      I am always amazed by your talents and creativity. xo

      Reply
    8. georgie says

      July 13, 2018 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      this is so cool, i never knew you could do this with fruit and vodka! i'd LOVE this as a gift 🙂

      Reply
    9. Jenni LeBaron says

      July 13, 2018 at 4:54 pm

      5 stars
      I totally agree! This would make an excellent Christmas gift. I always love giving people something homemade that they can enjoy together.

      Reply
    10. shelby says

      July 08, 2017 at 8:09 am

      This is so easy! I need to give this one a run!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        July 08, 2017 at 3:58 pm

        You do! It's so good!

        Reply
    11. Marcella says

      October 17, 2015 at 3:11 am

      I made a cherry liqueur with a similar recipe. After straining out the cherries and adding some simple syrup, I let it sit for another month or so. I just opened the jar tonight, and the metal top popped. Is that normal?

      Reply
      • Linda L. says

        June 17, 2020 at 7:23 pm

        Concerning the top popping:
        To safely make liqueurs, the alcohol percentage needs to be high enough to prevent fermentation of the fruit.
        I use vodka and sugar, though if the ratio of fruit is very high, the water content in the fruit may dilute the alcohol percentage significantly.
        An old and simple country recipe my dad gave me was:
        1. Fill the jar 3/4 with fruit
        2. Pour sugar to just cover fruit
        3. Pour in vodka (or higher proof +40) to fill jar.
        4. Turn daily to blend sugar until dissolved
        5. Let sit for minimum 8 weeks
        6. Strain off fruit to clarify

        Reply
        • Linda L. Luke says

          June 17, 2020 at 7:27 pm

          Correction on the ”40 proof" :
          I should have said, "40%" or 80 proof.

    12. Lauren @ Wicked Spatula says

      June 24, 2015 at 4:12 pm

      I can't get enough cherries lately and this looks like the perfect way to use them!

      Reply
    13. Manila Spoon says

      June 24, 2015 at 3:54 pm

      This is so awesome! I can imagine cherry flavored desserts in the middle of winter! Pinned for future reference!

      Reply
    14. Heather / girlichef says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Oh, perfect timing - I'm starting to see cherries all over the place! On my list...

      Reply
    15. Joy @ Joy Love Food says

      June 24, 2015 at 8:19 am

      I love cherries and infused liqueurs, this sounds wonderful, can't wait to give it a try!

      Reply
    16. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

      May 18, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      Another great recipe for me to try! Your blog alone is going to keep me busy trying out new things this summer, Pam! This is awesome!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        May 19, 2015 at 8:46 am

        I do what I can to get everyone infusing liqours!

        Reply
    17. Wearinbeads says

      August 01, 2013 at 10:05 pm

      our plum - gin infusions are to die for. Don't have access to cherries, so I am jealous. I don't know about cherries, but DO NOT use stone fruit pits such as peach, apricot (neither of which make good infusions for us), or plum pits. Anyone remember latriele? These contain cyanide. And did I mention the cherry infusion makes me jealous?

      Reply
      • Su Wu says

        September 05, 2017 at 9:01 pm

        There's more cyanide in the city's air than in the pits. Don't fret. They give a mellower taste, from all the recipes I've read using them.

        Reply
    18. grace says

      July 30, 2013 at 7:15 pm

      fantastic way to prolong the glory of cherries!

      Reply
    19. Erin Pocock says

      July 29, 2013 at 5:06 pm

      yummy! definitely going to try this!

      Reply
    20. June says

      July 29, 2013 at 8:17 pm

      MMMM what a super idea. I can't imagine how great this will taste come November as we're sitting in front of a roaring fire. I'll think of you - thanks Pam!

      Reply
    21. Marjie says

      July 29, 2013 at 7:54 pm

      The cherries look so pretty in the jar! That's reason enough for you to make them.

      Reply
    22. Lea Ann says

      July 29, 2013 at 11:52 am

      Love your proclamation for this summer. The only liquer I've ever made was Limoncello. I wasn't impressed with my efforts. If I made something this beautiful maybe I'd get the liquer bug.

      Reply
    23. Joanne says

      July 29, 2013 at 10:31 am

      Ooo I could see this being super lovely. Cherries are my favorite and they are NOT featured in drinks enough, in my opinion!

      Reply

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